Almost all schools requests letters of recommendations from professors and/or work supervisors/mentors. Which is better to have recommendations from- professors? or work? Professors may be able to comment on our writing, ability to analyze and talk intelligently about films, where as work supervisors can comment about our dependability, ability to work with others (which is crucial to film production careers) and other work related skills? Each can comment on our abilities in different ways... and I'm wondering which programs look at different skills... specifically schools like USC, UCLA, NYU, Columbia, and Chapman.

I'm currently workign on my UCLA graduate application and have more letters of Recommendations required and am wondering which ones I should send to which schools on the basis of what they wrote for me. Some emphasized my writing and being the "best student" in their class. Some wrote about my ability to analyze a movie, and even my short film projects. And some emphasized my ability to work with others, attention to detail and dependability.

Which schools favor which abilities for a a MFA film production program?

thanks.

quote:

Which schools favor which abilities for a a MFA film production program?

Honestly Kurt, I think you're thinking way too much about this. Just send them out. If you know they are all positive, that's what really matters. I got two recommendation letters from my profs, and one from a place I volunteered at, and it all worked out. I have no clue what any of them said, but I trust it was good. I'm also sure they wrote the same thing for each school that I applied to (minus the necessary form stuff that each school may have asked them to fill out).

If film school is anything like law school or other schools you're far better off getting them from professors or people who know you in an academic context rather than the boss at McDonald's. How cooperatively you can man the fry station is not as relevant as how engaged and intelligent you seem to be in the classroom

(not saying you work at a McJob, but you get the idea)

I'm inclined to agree that professors carry more weight, however, if you know someone at work who's going to write a thoughtful, unique and very compelling letter, take that above a form letter from your english teacher.

true, professors would be more relevalant that your boss at McDonalds, but in my case... my boss/mentor was the president of the production company I was interning at, so he was able to comment on my dependability, attention to detail, attitude, and passion for film/tv production.

My concern is whether or not the fact that he has no basis for judgment on my academic abilities... which may be a very very important factor in admission, but can comment on my skills in a work setting.

I'll probably send a mix of letters from professors and mentors. But I was curious if anyone had known for sure whether or not a specific school favors certain things... so in that way I know I'm sending the best letters to the right schools.

A mix sounds just right. Due to my background, I actually sent two letters from clients, and one from a theater director, and I got on... so it all depends. As long as the letters seem genuine, you're good.

I got two good letters of recomendation from directors i worked with but my biggest problem is the english.
The whole interview in english gives me the creeps.I have a first certificate in english but it was done like a "million" years ago.
I speak without an accent (because my ex -girlfriend was english) but my writting sometimes suck.
cheers.